Shoe



March 7, 1944. I p c g s HAL I 2,343,700

' SHOE- Filed April .22, 1943 27 MAO/-50 a. P/crrews Eon 0v ILPATC/rE/f,

Patented Mar. 7, 1944 SHOE Madison D. Pickens and Edwin A. Pecker,Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to Machine & Tool Designing Company,Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 22,1943, Serial No. 484,048

3 Claims.

This invention relates to footwear and, in particular, to the provisionof a new and improved shoe or sandal particularly adapted to productionfrom wood Pregwood Compregwood,

plastics and other non-strategic materials and which shoe may be cheaplyproduced in large quantities, whereby to relieve the existing shortagein leather and metallic shoe hardware.

It is a particular object of this invention to provide such a shoehaving an articulated sole structure embodying a hinge with a flexibleinsole adapted to cover the hinge joint between the sole portions ormembers for protecting the wearers foot from pinching, this insole alsoacting as a biasing member tending always to urge the toe portion or toemember of the sole structure toward extended position.

These and other objects and advantages will appear from the followingdescription taken in I} tially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; I

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, in side elevation,

illustrating the positions assumed by the parts of the sole structurewhen the wearers foot is flexed. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, in sideelevation, of a modified form of this invention embodying a simplifiedhinge structure.

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but illustrating a secondmodification of the invention wherein the hinge joint is protectedagainst the, entry of foreign material from the outside; and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing the parts in the positionassumed when the wearers foot is flexed.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the sole structure of the shoeillustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive comprises a blocklike heel piecegen erally designated In, a toe piece hingedly connected to the forwardend of the heel piece Ill and generally designated II, and an insolegenerally designated l2.

The insole i2 is substantially coextensive in length with the shoeproper. This insole I2 is secured to the heel piece substantiallythroughout the length of the heel piece l0, but is free of attachmentwith the toe piece ll over which it extends.

Secured to the heel piece and attached portion of the insole I2 i askeleton upper comprising an instep strap I 4, an ankle strap l5 and aheel strap l6 having its ends suitably secured to the ankle strap l5.These straps 14, I5 and Iii may be made of any suitable flexible textileor other material, preferably at least one of the straps l5 or it beingelastic. Otherwise a buckle or other known adjustable device (not shown)may be provided for adjustment to the wearer's foot and for convenientingress and egress.

The heel piece I0 and toe piece ll may be formed of any suitablematerial such as wood, Pregwood, Compregwood, composition or moldedplastic, the insole l2 being formed of any suitable flexible material.The bond l1 between the insole l2 and heel piece H1 is secured by anyappropriate adhesive such as hot or cold glue where insole and heelpiece are plywood and wood respectively. Throughout the drawing thebonds are exaggerated andmade visible although they be invisible infact.

Optionally, an outsole is provided comprising the heel plate i8 securedby bond l9 to the heel piece I!) and the toe plate secured by bond 2| tothe toe piece Ii. Where the heel piece I0 and toe piece l I are formedof such materials as basswood or balsa such outer coverings or wearplates are particularly advantageous.

In order to decrease the weight of the shoe or sandal, suitablelightening holes or apertures 22, 23 and 24 are optionally provided atsuitable locations whereby the weight and distribution of weight, orbalance, of the shoe may be closely controlled.

The .hinge connection between the heel piece [0 and toe piece H isachieved by means of com.- plementary hinge members formed integrallywith the heel piece l0 and toe piece I I. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5,these hinge members may comprise a transverse socket 25 adjacent theforward end of heel piece l0 and opening through the forward surfacethereof in a slot 26, and a cylindrical hinge member 21 rotatablysupported in the socket. The hinge member 26 is formed integrally withthe toe piece II and extends rear wardly from the rear end thereof.Above the hinge member 21, the rear end of the toe piece II is cut awayat 28 in order to allow flexing of the parts as shown in Fig. 5.

An alternative form of hinge is shown in Fig. 6. This hinge structurecomprises aligned slots 30 and 3| in the adjacent ends of the heel piecel0 and toe piece I I respectively, and a flexible hinge strip 32 securedin said slots in any suitable manner as by pegs or nails 33, and/or asuitable adhesive. This hinge structure like the above described hingestructure 25, 26, 21, 28 permits flexing of the shoe when the foot ofthe wearer is flexed.

In the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 1-5 inclusive in Fig. 6, and inFigs. '7 and 8, the free forward portion of the insole I2 which overliesthe hinge joint and slidingly engages the upper surface of the toe piecell protects the foot of the wearer from pinching by reason of protrusioninto the space between the movable heel piece I and toe piece ll.

Furthermore, the resiliency of this insole causes it constantly toreturn the parts from the flexed position shown in Fig. to the extendedposition shown in Figs. 2 and 6.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the structure of Figs.1-5 inclusive is modified by provision of relatively heavy heel and toeplates designated 40 and 4| respectively, one provided with a slot 42and the other with a complementary tongue 43 supported in said slot. Thecooperative relation of this tongue and slot effects protection of thehinge structure from foreign matter seeking to enter in the flexedposition of the parts (Fig. 8). This feature is, of course, as readilyapplicable to the hinge structure illustrated in Fig. 6 as to the hingestructure of Figs. 1-5 inclusive. Likewise, while a single, skeleton,form of upper only is shown, any known design of upper may be applied tothe sole structures illustrated and described above.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the upper surface of the heel plate i0 isrecessed at 35 (Figs. 2 and 3) to receive the joined ends of the anklestrap I5 and at 34 (Figs. 2 and 4) to receive the joined ends of theinstep strap It. The bond l1 extends through these areas and effectivelysecures the engaged portions of the straps l4 and I5 between the heelpiece l0 and insole [2. In the same manner uppers of any desired type orextent may be secured, marginally at least, between insole and heelpiece.

From the above description, it will clearly appear that we have providedshoe constructions adapted to production from non-strategic materialstotally without the use of leather or metallic fittings. The heel andtoe members of the sole proper may be turned out of wood or fabricatedof impregnated wood, known as Pre wood, impregnated and compressed wood,known as Compregwoocl, moulded plastic or other available compositions.Because of the articulation provided by the hinge connection betweenthese parts, which allow the sole to flex with the flexing foot of awearer, it is unnecessary that the material from which these members aremade be either flexible or resilient.

The bridging of the hinge joint by the relatively flexible insoleprotects the wearers foot from pinching and, in addition, constantlybiases or urges the toe member or toe portion toward extended or flatposition and protects the wearers foot from friction incident torelative movement between the toe portion or member and the wearersfoot.

Likewise the protective outsole illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8,effectively protects the hinge structure and prolongs the life thereof.

It is, of course, to be understood that the above description is merelyillustrative and in nowise limiting and that we intend to comprehendwithin our invention all modifications within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sole construction, comprising a heel piece and a toe piece bothof rigid material, hinge means for said pieces, and a lower solecomprising a plurality of layers of material, said layers forming abroken joint with parts of each layer connected to the heel piece andother parts connected to the sole piece, the parts of one of said layersattached to one of said pieces having a tongue extending beneath aportion of the other piece, whereby to protect said hinge means fromforeign matter.

2. In a sole construction, comprising a heel piece and a toe piece bothof rigid material, hinge means for said pieces located between the upperand lower surfaces of said pieces, an upper sole attached permanently tosaid heel piece and loosely extending at least partially over said solepiece, and a lower sole comprising a plurality of layers of material,said layers forming a broken joint with parts of each layer connected tothe heel piece and other parts connected to the sole piece, the parts ofone of said layers attached to one of said pieces having a tongueextending beneath a portion of the other piece, whereby to protect saidhinge means from foreign matter.

3. In a sole construction, comprising a heel piece and a toe piece bothof rigid material, hinge means for said pieces located between the upperand lower surfaces of said pieces, an upper sole attached permanently tosaid heel piece and loosely extending at least partially over said solepiece, and a lower sole comprising a plurality of layers of material,said layers forming a broken joint with parts of each layer connected tothe heel piece and other parts connected to the sole piece, the parts ofone of said layers attached to one of said pieces having a tongueextending beneath a portion of the other piece, whereby to protect saidhinge means from foreign matter, a part of another layer being locatedbeneath said tongue but attached to the other piece and being in slidingengagement with said tongue.

MADISON D. PICKENS. EDWIN A. PECKER.

